Graduate HR Interview Questions

If you're a graduate looking to get into HR and need to get a feel for the kind of questions employers might ask at interview, then make sure you research these graduate HR interview questions below. These questions and answers are taken from real graduate interviews, and compiled to give you an idea of what to expect and how to prepare your answers.

Example HR Interview Questions:

Part of the role will involve setting challenging and measurable goals and targets for the HR team. How would you do this?

The best way to set targets would be to look at the data from the previous year and then update them and apply them to the current situation. Always set targets at the upper-end of the difficulty range, but do not set them so high that they will demotivate your staff. Always attach a number and a deadline to these targets. Be specific and try to find examples of when you have done this in the past. Acknowledge the importance of incentives in some instances.

As a HR Manager how would you ensure that you represent our company in the most positive light when dealing with unions and other external bodies?

In HR you will need to deal with conflict in many forms. Depending on the sector, a main source of friction will come from trade unions. Companies are often reflected well to external bodies if they have a loyal workforce, and as HR manager you must note that you can act as an intermediary between employees and management. Establish a list of ways that the firm is good for your employees that you can keep you your sleeve, and work with employees to deal with conflict early on to reduce the need for union involvement. Over time you will develop a strong defence to common criticisms.

It is important that you are up to date with all legislation, what do you know about the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006?

This is a testing question. If you are a graduate with little experience then the employer will not expect you to know employment legislation inside out. If you have prepared for the interview to some extent then you should be able to respond well, if not entirely comprehensively. Prior to the interview look carefully at legislation related to employment, acknowledging the importance of avoiding both negative and positive discrimination in the workplace, both for the sake of fair employment and to avoid possible legal repercussions.